Canadian Soccer
Former national team player Nick Dasovic has been named head coach of Canada’s men’s under-23 team which will attempt to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games, the Canadian Soccer Association announced Thursday.
Dasovic, 39, was born in Vancouver but played most of his career in Europe. The defender spent several years in Croatia, including one season with Dynamo Zagreb of the First Division. He had 63 caps and two goals playing for Canada’s national team.
Recently Dasovic had been an assistant coach with the national team, working with head coach Dale Mitchell. He also served as an assistant coach with Mitchell’s Canadian U-20 team, taking part in three-straight FIFA U-20 World Cups.
Dasovic was a player and assistant coach with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the United Soccer Leagues.
The Canadian men will attempt to qualify for the Beijing Games during the CONCACAF U-23 Championship this March in Carson, Calif., and Nashville.
To qualify for the Olympics Canada must finish among the top two teams in the eight-team tournament. Canada will play in Group B against Mexico, Guatemala and Haiti in a round-robin series March 12-16.
The two teams will advance to the March 20 crossover semifinal in Nashville.
Group A teams include the United States, Cuba, Honduras and Panama.
The semifinal winners advance to March 23 championship game.
Source: CSA names Dasovic coach of national team
